This book was beautifully written and hauntingly beautiful. The characters are people I wanted to know personally, and I laughed, cried, and struggled alongside them

I thought that I was going to love this book, but something was missing. I enjoy the heck out of it, but something was missing. I don't know what, but something. If you enjoy reading about diverse ya fantasy books with bits of family drama, then you will enjoy reading this.

I struggled to get into this one and eventually realized it wasn't for me, and that's okay! I have heard wonderful things about it and will still absolutely be recommending it at my library. I'm hoping to try the audiobook to see if that format clicks better for me.

The Making of Yolanda la Bruja" is a captivating tale! Yolanda's spiritual journey beautifully explores community, spirituality, despair, and hope. Drawing from her Bronx roots, Lorraine Avila skillfully weaves these elements into the story. The narrative addresses important issues like school and community violence, giving a meaningful voice to young adults navigating their coming-of-age experiences. I found myself captivated from beginning to end with the story.

What I particularly enjoyed was the portrayal of diverse cultures in the book. Lorraine Avila's commendable decision to feature a hearing-impaired main character adds depth and inclusivity to the already exceptional story.

I recommend this book without hesitation! A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC – a true delight for any avid reader

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

We follow Yolanda as she navigates high school. The story picks up fast and we see her experiencing racism as well as different societal pressures from home and school.

The need to fit in and to not fit in.
Although I didn't finish read this before it was archived. I enjoyed exploring the world through Yolanda's eyes and the experiences young latinx women encounter.

DNF 50%

I loved the premise of the story, but it was challenging to stay with it until the end. Outside of the main narrative, there were many social issues and themes being tackled. At some points, I was pulled out of the story because of the way the social issues were addressed as an aside rather than woven into the plot. Also, all those issues alongside the ending, left me feeling emotionally exhausted before I even reached the end.

The Making of Yolanda la Bruja is a story that ties in racism, social justice, gun violence, community love, spirituality, and more. This book boosts awareness in anyone who picks up this read.

Once I accepted the delivery of the story, I started enjoying the life of a teenage inner-city kid. At the story's beginning, I questioned and judged the hell out of the main character (Yolanda). Alas, I did respect Yolanda's character. I liked how she carried herself, even when she doubted her place in society as an apprentice-in-training bruja. In true coming-to-age fashion, I love learning who she was as a person and the story she was trying to tell.

What I liked most about TMOYLB and what kept me engaged was the portrayal and initiation of the family tradition of becoming a Bruja.

I rated this book 3.5. It was a nice story that touched on a lot of human issues. I loved the elements of Yolanda's religion mixing with her everyday life. It was a sad and happy ending with a message that can hopefully change how we think of people.

I loved everything about this. All the characters were so special. This is the perfect YA, like this is the example. Yolanda was such a beautiful main character I loved her love for her culture and her school. I had tears in my eyes reading her speech. Just pure magic

Yolanda Alvarez is a high school student in the Bronx juggling school and being initiated as a bruja in her family's tradition. Things are going well for her until a white boy, a politician's son, starts at her school and slowly starts causing disruptions. It eventually ends in a school shooting and brings many issues to light. It brings to light race, justice, spirituality and many other racial and political injustices. It was a moving and emotional read.

What I loved
- Bronx Rep by a Bronx born and raised author
- Bi Black Latinx Rep
- How spirituality in incoroporated in the story and the respect its given by changing names of dieties and so forth.

What I liked
- Not a lot of romance but whats there is cute and genuine

I dont get why
- The inclusion of the processors seemed like an after thought to me. I appreciate that disability was considered especially bc Avila themselves dealt with a speech impediment, but I wish she wrote about that instead since she has experience with is.

Overall it was a really great book and I will definintely be reading more from Avila.

This debut has a clear objective and executes it almost as well.
Yolanda Noels Alvarez is one of the most unique YA protagonists I have come across: from a Black Dominican family, she is being initiated by her grandmother into her Bruja role, she is very active in her school in regards to building a good learning space and fostering a community. She is proud and unafraid to speak up yet also still working through some old fears and coming into her own as a young adult. The book is also a little queer (Yolanda mentions a previous crush on a girl, no labels are used) and se has been wearing hearing aids since she was a toddler - it covers a lot of ground in terms of lived experiences even if race is one that takes center stage.
The subject matter is heavy and the book does not shy away from being upfront with its content but there is a really nice balance between the possible hate crime that might occur and Yolanda's otherwise positive life. Community, in general, is a big part of the novel. Friendships, guidance from teachers and grandmothers, religious practices and the importance of mental health, new romantic relationships and reconnecting with parents, the book does not limit itself to just one part of Yolanda's life but paints a full, vibrant picture.

I have a few minor quibbles, like maybe I sometimes felt that the kids were talking a bit too analytical for their age but I'm not even that mad about it cause it gave space for varying opinions and viewpoints to be shared. I think this book would be really well served as a group/discussion read.

The Making of Yolanda la Bruja is an intriguing book with an excellent setup, but in my opinion it needed to be edited further before release. Yolanda's world explodes off of the page, and the characters definitely feel like they are of the world that's created by the author, but I didn't like the book as much as I possibly could have - for two reasons: 1) because there's another series just like this, only it's set in California, and the main character isn't Afro-Latina, and 2) like Drama High, I think that if the characters were going to be presented as a viable threat they needed to have a more supernatural slant, or more focus on why Yolanda's supernatural powers couldn't help her more in that situation, to the point where they could've left the magic out and I probably would've enjoyed "The Making of Yolanda" more.

I truly enjoyed this book. It feels like a sort of call to action. My favourite aspect of the book was the way that it looked at the systems in Yolanda's life and how they worked for and against her. Magic! I will say that this book seemed a little too long though and I felt it dragged a little bit in the end, but still a solid read.

This book is an excellent representation of YA truly being YA.

I loved this book now as an adult, and I wish the teenage version of me had this title back then to read.

It is clear that Avila will continue to wow us with whatever she produces in the future. The prose is excellent and Avila handles gun violence with care. I was also beyond overjoyed to see Bronx teens represented in a way that feels real and raw.

This is a must read, and re-read.

Incredible Prose!

I was drawn to reading this story for a variety of reasons and the thing that was striking all throughout was the author's beautiful story-telling capability. It's as if she married words and phrases so well that it built a rich experience around the main character, Yolanda. Each page I turned I wanted more and more from the characters and plot line and that's exactly what I received. It is a story that bridges together the power of community, tradition, and family.

Yolanda Alvarez is a sophomore at Julio De Burgos High in the Bronx. It has become one of the few places that she's beginning to find her footing in. She's started the Brave Space Club there and is confident that her initiation as bruja, a family tradition, is finally underway. She's has her day one bestie, Victory, and a blooming situation with Jose, the star basketball player at Julio De Burgos. All things are coming together for good until a white boy, Ben, transfers in. It is then that Yolanda begins to have haunting visions of a potential violent event. It is more than just an initiation for Yolanda, she has to go deep into all of her teachings and knowledge of las Brujas Diosas to protect her community from the immediate threat that Ben poses.

The Making Of Yolanda La Bruja sheds light on the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, and tradition. It's an excellent read that you definitely will want to get into.

I highlighted this book on my Booktube channel. The video can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/VgQTkraei4c

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
When a new student arrives at her school, Yolanda must learn to trust herself and her magic when she receives visions that let her know he is not good.
While I liked the book, I felt like it was a little weighed down and too long. The book also became repetitive at times, like the author was trying to drive home a point by having Yolanda think about it again and again. While this is true to life, in a book it drags on and is better cut down to key moments to make more of an impact. There were moments that felt like it would have been edited down.
I did like that the language was an authentic mix of Spanish and English, reflecting Yolanda's background, without taking time to translate.

Book review

Thank you to NetGalley and Author Lorraine Avila for an advanced release copy for an exchange of my honest review/opinion of the book!

The Making of Yolanda la Bruia is a story about a Dominican Afro Latina girl named Yolanda Yo Alvarez who is raised by her grandmother,
Mama Tete, in the Bronx. She attends Julia De Burgos High and is entering her sophomore year. Mama Tete is a seasoned Bruja and is teaching and guiding Yo to become a Bruja. Yo begins to have disturbing visions of the new kid in schoolI and is conflicted with trusting her Bruja Diosas (sport guides) and herself. Should she report her vision to the school admin? If she does will they believe her? Are her visions gifts from her Bruja Diosas or is it just a figment of her imagination??

I absolutely adored this book! I loved the relationship with Yo and Mama Tete. The sense of home that Mama Tete provided for Yo was beyond the physical room and board. Mama Tete’a character felt like comfort. I enjoyed that Yo’s relationship with Mama Tete was respectful but held was for frustration and questioning.

The dynamic of Yo and her best friend Victoria was EVERYTHING to me! Often times in books best friend are portrayed as being perfect. Never getting in to disagreement. If disagreements do occur they tend to be an over drawn monumental issues. Victoria and Yo held each other down regardless of any disagreements that may occur between them. They would argue but it never felt like they were in some huge exaggerated fight. Instead it just felt like a true friendship where sometimes you disagree and don’t get along…and it doesn’t change the love.

Not only did this book hit you with a nod to religious/spiritual practices of Afro descendants it also touched on heavy hitting topic. Topics of racism, mental health, white supremacy, classism, COVID 19, and much more were handles with grace.

I look forward to reading future books by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. Once I saw that Elizabeth Acevedo made a comment on this book, I wanted to read it. I like her style of writing and this was not too far from it as well. This was well writting speaking towards family customs and culture and it was interesting to see how they lived tied into her fathers' release from jail.